States and territories detail plans to implement roadmap to reopen economy

States and territories will reopen cafes, restaurants and shops at different paces under a three-stage national plan to relax coronavirus restrictions and guide Australia to a "new normal".

Cafes and restaurants could reopen under stage one but with restrictions on the number of customers.

Cafes and restaurants could reopen under stage one but with restrictions on the number of customers. Source: AAP

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced and reopen Australian society and the economy amid the coronavirus pandemic, but it will depend on where you live as to when you'll be able to enjoy more freedom. 

The federal government aims to reach stage three, which includes large gatherings, interstate travel and reopening pubs and clubs, in July. 

But it is up to states and territories to determine when they will move to each stage of rolling back the restrictions.

Queensland

Queensland will move to stage one on 16 May.

That means restaurants, libraries, pools and beauty salons will be allowed to open their doors for the first time in weeks.

Up to 10 people at a time will be able dine in or go to a wedding, while personal training sessions, retail shopping and funerals of up to 20 inside or 30 outside are also allowed from 16 May.
A boy and a woman feed seagulls and pelicans on the Wynnum foreshore during the lockdown..Queensland Government has relaxed some of the lockdown rules amid Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by Florent Rols / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)
The Queensland government has relaxed some of the lockdown rules already. Source: AAP
Queenslanders can travel up to 150 kilometres from home for recreation, except in the outback, where locals can travel up to 500km and eateries can serve up to 20 dine-in customers at a time.

Limits will be peeled back further on 12 June, when 'no contact' community sports can resume, and when gyms, health clubs, yoga studios, concert venues, theatres, zoos, stadiums, outdoor amusement parks and arcades can open in a limited capacity.

Restrictions would be further eased on 10 July.

"All things going well, from June school holidays, Queenslanders will be able to drive and stay at accommodation for the first time since the pandemic hit," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Friday.

"We want to keep taking steps forward, not backwards."

Queenslanders are already allowed to go on picnics, hikes, shop, and go boating and fishing within 50km of home.

South Australia

From Monday, alcohol-free outdoor dining and outdoor sports training can resume and up to 30 people will be allowed to attend funerals across South Australia.

Universities and TAFE colleges will also be allowed to resume face-to-face learning, public swimming pools and libraries can reopen, and open house inspections and home auctions will be permitted under a raft of changes announced on Friday.
People are seen walking through Rundle Mall in Adelaide, Saturday, March 28, 2020  Rundle Mall is normally one of South Australia's busiest shopping districts. (AAP Image/David Mariuz) NO ARCHIVING
People walk through Rundle Mall in Adelaide. Source: AAP
In almost all cases, numbers will be limited to 10 people at a time and all social distancing provisions will still apply.

However, SA will allow up to 20 people to attend a funeral indoors and up to 30 people outdoors.

Premier Steven Marshall says the changes are possible because of the excellent work across SA and the nation to tackle the health crisis.

"Now we've got to do everything we can to bring unemployment down, get people back to work," he said.

"But we've got to do it in a way that is not going to jeopardise the incredible performance and gains we've made.

"Life as we know it will never be the same. But we have come a long way in the last eight weeks."
SA plans to lift more restrictions in June and expects, along with the rest of the nation, to have moved to a "COVID-19 safe economy" by some time in July.

Mr Marshall said locals were also being encouraged to get out into the state's regions with all restrictions on caravanning and camping also lifted.

The changes came as South Australia recorded no new virus infections on Friday, leaving the state with only two active cases from its total of 439.

SA has confirmed only one new case in the past 16 days.

Victoria and NSW

Victoria and NSW, however, will wait until next week before making any decisions under the plan which was announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison following the national cabinet meeting on Friday. 

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews described the plan as a menu from which states could choose restrictions to relax.

"Let's not give everything back. Let's not throw away all the progress we've made by letting our frustration get the better of us," he told reporters in Melbourne.
Melbourne meatworks coronavirus cluster grows to 49 as new infections confirmed
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will announce more plans on Monday. Source: AAP
There will be no changes until at least Monday when Victoria's state of emergency ends.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has also flagged a cautious approach as her state and Victoria grapple with active outbreaks.

Queensland will allow dining and drinks at restaurants, pubs, clubs, RSLs and cafes for up to 10 people.

Western Australia

West Australians will have to wait until Sunday to learn which coronavirus restrictions will be eased next in the state.

Speaking before the national cabinet meeting on Friday, Premier Mark McGowan said WA could be more "economically progressive" than other states and relax more restrictions.

Re-opening at least some intrastate borders is a possibility to help boost the local economy.

While WA has been more advanced in its loosening of some restrictions, including increasing gatherings to 10 people and allowing home opens, the state government's stance on the hard border closure has been strict.

Mr McGowan said he would need to be confident there were "very low or virtually zero" infections on the east coast before re-opening WA's border.

Tasmania

Tasmania will reopen national parks and ease funeral restrictions from Monday but strict border controls are likely to remain for months.

Premier Peter Gutwein unveiled the state's gradual road map to recovery on Friday afternoon, which includes staggered return-to-school dates.

The maximum number of people allowed at funerals will increase from 10 to 20 on 11 May while people will be able to visit national parks within 30km of their house.

Restrictions will be eased further from 18 May when stage one of the plan begins, with public gatherings of up to 10 people allowed.

"Our pathway back will be gradual, it will be careful," Premier Peter Gutwein said.

"We will continue to march to the beat of our own drum. If we find that we cannot move, then we won't."

"It is important that we take public health advice every step of the way."

Limits on visits to aged care homes will also be eased from Monday.

Students from kindergarten to Year 6, plus Years 11 and 12, will return from 25  May, with remaining grades to resume in June.

Mr Gutwein said current border restrictions will stay in place until July under all three stages of the plan.

Returning Tasmanian residents will be allowed to quarantine in their residence from 18 May if it is suitable, but people from interstate will still need to quarantine in government-run facilities.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory will stick with its existing plans for the lifting of restrictions imposed to combat the coronavirus pandemic in the wake new national measures released on Friday.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner indicated the Territory would push ahead with its three-stage approach that will remove most restrictions on business and community activities by early June.

The NT's changes began last weekend with parks reopening and outdoor weddings and funerals allowed along with real estate inspections and auctions.
A local rides a dirt bike at Gunn Point Beach on the outskirts of Darwin, Friday, May 1, 2020. Northern Territory becomes the first state to ease COVID-19 restrictions. (AAP Image/Patrina Malone) NO ARCHIVING
Northern Territory was the first jurisdiction to ease COVID-19 restrictions. Source: AAP
Stage two from 15 May allows for the reopening of restaurants, cafes, and bars as long as people purchase food.

Non-contact sports can also start, and indoor activities will be allowed for those of less than two hours.

That includes beauty salons, gyms, libraries and places of religious worship.

The third and final stage from June 5 will remove the two-hour limit on indoor activities, and allow the reopening of bars and clubs without food being compulsory.

Entertainment venues and cinemas will also reopen and team sports such as football and netball will be allowed.

Businesses are required to complete a safety plan to ensure physical distancing and good hygiene.

The internal border controls restricting access to areas that include indigenous communities will remain in place until 18 June and possibly longer.

ACT

The ACT is allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people from Saturday but dining at restaurants and cafes will not restart immediately.


Share
8 min read
Published 8 May 2020 5:40pm


Share this with family and friends